Before the horror of the 1994 Rwandan genocide set forth, there were a plethora of teenagers receiving apparitions of both the Virgin Mary and Jesus in Africa.  In what seemed like one last “Hail Mary” attempt to save the human race from themselves, a select few were chosen to steer mankind back towards the path of heaven.

In Immaculée Ilibagiza’s fourth book, The Boy who met Jesus, we meet one Segatashya, who was impoverished, illiterate and completely ignorant of Christianity, yet was able to ask Jesus face-to-face the questions most of us have pondered our entire lives. 

While reading through the conversations Segatashya had with Jesus, I was most surprised by how often Satan entered the dialogue.  In all honesty, I feel like we tend to downplay Satan.  I’ve come to realize in recent years how many people have either forgotten about Satan or simply don’t believe.  Which to me is baffling, and most likely exactly what he wants. 

On one account of Segatashya’s mission through the Conga, he describes a group of bandits running onto a moving train.  They robbed, they rapped they murdered while howling like rabid animals.  How can acts so savage occur without some demonic presence? 

So, what could Segatashya’s conversations with Jesus tell us about events such as these?

One such recorded passage reads:

“When God created man, Satan, in his jealousy and loneliness, set out to destroy mankind’s relationship with God.  Ever since mankind’s creation, Satan has been hoping to trick humanity with lies and temptation, hoping that man will love the sin of the devil more than the goodness of God.

Satan hates suffering in isolation and, rather than be alone, tries to lead as many souls as he can away from the light of God’s Love and into wickedness and evil.  Satan wants man to suffer with him, to be cursed as he is cursed-for there is no suffering greater than to live without God’s love.  Satan knows how much God loves mankind, and that gives him even more pleasure when he corrupts a human soul.  He wants God to suffer as he does.

Remember this, my child, God’s love and light are the only safeguard against evil and eternal darkness…tell all those who will listen to prepare their hearts for the Day of Judgement, for the last days of Earth draw near.  Satan is the author of all lies and is not to be trusted; he has been trying to separate mankind from God’s love since Adam and Eve.”  (p. 108-109).

 

Satan is the author of all lies and is not to be trusted.

Jesus

So, what do I make of this?  The devil is real, and the devil should be feared.  Not just for how the devil may attack our earthly lives but our eternal lives as well.  I do not think Satan separates souls from God in one large ambush, but from many small, consistent attacks.

Concentration camps, human trafficking, ethnic cleansing- perpetrators of such atrocities started off as ordinary men and women.  The pain human beings can become capable of inflicting upon each other is truly terrifying.  Luckily, the power of love and compassion we as a people possess are stronger than evil. 

Just think, if we could all humble ourselves enough to listen to the words of a lowly bean-farmer, pagan turned warrior for Christ, the devil might not even stand a chance!